Janet Theiss, Associate Professor of History, died unexpectedly in November 2025. She is survived by her daughter Tabitha, her father Norman, her sisters Tamara and Jennifer, nieces and nephew, and a wide circle of friends. A wonderful scholar, colleague, teacher, administrator, mentor, and friend, Janet has left an enduring impact on the University of Utah and will be missed by all who knew her.

Janet received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and her graduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Specializing in Chinese History with a focus on the Qing period, Janet’s 2004 book, Disgraceful Matters: The Politics of Chastity in Eighteenth-Century China, highlighted her expertise in legal, gender, social, and cultural history. Her second book, Scandal and the Limits of Self-Invention in Eighteenth-Century China, in progress at the time of her death, continued to explore critical questions about the politics of sexuality, gender, and class in late imperial China.

Janet was active in her field as a journal editor, council member for the Association for Asian Studies, co-Director of the Society for Qing Studies, and as President of the Western Conference of the Association for Asian Studies. A valued member of the University of Utah community for over 28 years, in 2018 Janet received the Humanities Distinguished Faculty Service Award. She was the founding director of the Asia Center, which she administered with her characteristic energy and steady hand for over a decade, receiving prestigious Title VI grants to support innovative research, teaching, and programming initiatives. An award-winning teacher, Janet was also a dedicated graduate mentor who worked closely with MA students, many of whom were later accepted into PhD programs in Chinese History.

Janet was an essential member of the Department of History: a highly respected colleague who many turned to for advice and who always exhibited grace under pressure. Janet never failed to keep department members focused on the issues that were truly important and consistently modeled ethical and transparent decision making. Her colleagues valued her carefully considered and always compassionate opinions, her professionalism and seriousness of purpose, and her contributions to the intellectual and social life of the department, college, and university. Janet’s hospitality was unmatched: she made everyone--friends, colleagues, and even strangers--feel welcome in her home especially at her famous Chinese New Year Dumpling party. Her generosity was legendary. Janet’s mantra was “such is life.” This was her reminder that although life is full of unexpected hardships, which for Janet included the equally untimely death of her husband and our colleague Bradley Parker, there is always reason to keep going. All of us who were privileged to know Janet Theiss and to work alongside her will remember her as an irreplaceable paragon of collegiality and integrity.

Remembrances: 

Association for Asian Studies
Tobie Meyer-Fong, Late Imperial China
International Society for Chinese Law and History